Creative ways to nudge your dog’s fluid intake

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Did you know that hot weather changes the maths of cooling for dogs? Panting evaporates water from the tongue and airway to shed heat. As humidity rises, evaporation slows, so cooling becomes less efficient. Click to learn more about how dogs cool themselves.

Some dogs rarely drink large volumes on their own. In warm, humid spells, a little encouragement matters, especially when you consider that dogs can typically lose between 0.5 and 1.5 litres of water via their salivary glands on an average day (Iorgulescu, 2009).

Unlike humans, dogs have taste receptors specifically for water, located at the tip of their tongue. They show preferences for water temperature and even the presence of certain minerals. So they can detect subtle differences in its taste. You can nudge drinking in the warm weather by tweaking the experience: taste, temperature, scent and setting shape how inviting the bowl feels. Licking-based options cool the mouth and slow intake, which keeps things safer than big gulps after play.

Large UK datasets show why this matters. In 2016–2018, around three-quarters of canine heatstroke cases were triggered by everyday activity, such as walking or playing at home, not by being left in cars. The overall event fatality rate was just over 14 per cent. Crucially, many events occurred in what most owners would call mild weather, with a typical event day around 17 degrees Celsius, so risk is not limited to heatwaves (Hall et al., 2020)

See my tips below for creative ways to keep your dogs hydrated in the heat, and remember to use the Rule of 1/3s for Food to be strategic with your dog’s calories.

Some quick fluid-intake wins!

1. Hydration tasting bar
Account for your dog’s preferences by setting two or three bowls side by side: plain room-temperature water, lightly chilled water, and very dilute dog-safe stock, for example, unsalted chicken broth mixed with water. Rotate bowl positions each time to keep interest high. Keep a plain bowl of fresh water available and topped up, at all times. Preference Testing is a great way to understand better what your dog likes and loves. Learn more here.

2. Wet their meals
If your dog eats dry food, try soaking kibble in warm water for 10 to 15 minutes, or consider switching one meal to a high-moisture option. Studies in pet dogs show that changing what is offered around the bowl increases total water intake and dilutes urine, a practical sign of better hydration (Zanghi and Gardner, 2018).

3. Licki-slush tiles
Blend seedless watermelon or cantaloupe with water, spread thinly on a silicone lick mat, then freeze. Add a few blueberries for scent and visual interest. Licking cools the mouth and slows intake.

4. Cucumber coolers
Offer chilled cucumber rounds or frozen discs. Cucumber is over 95 per cent water and low in calories. Why not pair this with short training bursts, such as 3-5 repetitions of sit/down/sit or recalling to you, to bust some dog neurons, whilst preventing them from swallowing their reward too quickly.

5. Bobbing for balls
From my book Playing With Your Dog (Grice, 2010): float tennis balls or dog toys in a shallow tray or tub of cool water and cue “take it”. If your dog loves being rewarded with food more than toy-play, swap in a few pieces of kibble or a commercial treat. Keep water paw-deep and sessions brief. You could provide the remainder of their dinner via a lick-mat to finish. This cools the dog’s muzzle and paws and keeps drinking fun yet controlled.

6. Broth slushy
Consider freezing low-sodium dog broth into small ice flakes or mashing it into a slushy texture rather than hard cubes. Avoid any onion, garlic, and artificial sweeteners. For sensitive stomachs, start with plain ice flakes and build gradually.

7. Working-day option for athletes
For active or working dogs, nutrient-enriched waters have been shown to increase intake and support cooler body temperatures and quicker pulse recovery after exercise in warm conditions (Zanghi et al., 2018; Zanghi et al., 2018a). This can be a helpful adjunct, never a replacement for ready access to fresh water.

Water play, safety and welfare

Encouraging water play can help dogs stay cool. However, not all dogs enjoy getting wet, while others struggle to know when to stop! Supervise any water play. For less confident dogs, you can introduce water using very shallow trays, treats and gentle praise – avoid luring with food into the water. Aim to reward your dog with whatever they value (food, toys, praise, touch, etc.). Start by rewarding your dog whenever they look at the water. Then, progress to rewarding them when they approach the shallow tray, and ‘jackpot’ the first time they pop a nose or paw into the water. See my infographic for more on jackpotting.

Ensure you provide plenty of shade around the garden and over any water. Schedule activities in the coolest parts of the day, such as walking, games of tug, fetch, etc. Learn early signs of heat stress, including but not limited to rapid breathing, slowing, wobbliness, vomiting, or sudden lethargy. Read my hot weather safety tips for more on this.

If your dog loves to charge about in the water, be careful, as your dog could accidentally take in too much water when grabbing for the ball, which could make them sick. Click here to read more tips in People Magazine article Splashing Out.

Similarly, some breeds can be more prone to obsessively play fetch and overheat, known as Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC). This is a nervous system disorder triggered by strenuous exercise, causing muscle weakness, lack of coordination, and collapse. Be mindful of playing fetch in the water, too. Although water intoxication is rare, it remains a risk to be aware of (Hall et al., 2020; Toll, 1999).

My best advice for staying cool in the heat? Stay inside and play with your dog!

For dozens of low-impact games and scent-led puzzles, see Playing With Your Dog – Have a Smarter, Fitter, Happier Dog on Amazon, also available from other online booksellers.

References

• Hall, E. J., Carter, A. J. and O’Neill, D. G (2020) Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016. Scientific Reports, 10, 9128.
• Iorgulescu G. (2009) Saliva between normal and pathological. Important factors in determining systemic and oral health. Journal of Medicine and Life, 2(3):303-7.
• Toll, J. (1999) Acute water intoxication in a dog. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, 9(3), pp.189–191.
• Zanghi, B. M., Robbins, P. J., Ramos, M. T. and Otto, C. M. (2018) Working dogs drinking a nutrient-enriched water maintain cooler body temperature and improved pulse rate recovery after exercise. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 5, 202.
• Zanghi, B. M. and Gardner, C. L. (2018a) Total water intake and urine measures of hydration in adult dogs drinking tap water or a nutrient-enriched water. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 5, 317.